Traffic Calming Program

Speeding on residential streets is a growing problem that affects quality of life in every City neighborhood. When motorists disobey vehicle and traffic laws, concerned citizens ask what steps they can take to "calm" the speeding problem on neighborhood streets. Working together with the right tools and strategies, you, your neighborhood group or block club and the City can effectively reduce the neighborhood speeding problem and keep our streets safe for everyone.

Speed Reduction Options

Speed EnforcementRegular enforcement of speed limits by police is often the best way to control the problem on neighborhood streets. Call the Rochester Police Department's Traffic Enforcement Unit at 428-6714 to schedule active radar enforcement on your street as resources allow.

Digital Speed DisplayThe Police Dept. has a mobile trailer which records and displays digital readouts of a vehicle's speed. Since motorists often don't realize how fast they are traveling, seeing their actual speed on the display can result in slower speeds. The Speed Display Program is often used in conjunction with Speed Enforcement. Call the Traffic Enforcement Unit at (585) 428-6714 to schedule the Speed Trailer for your street as resources allow.

Speed HumpsSpeed humps are an option for streets with relatively high traffic speeds and volumes. Review the City's Speed Hump Policy for more information to determine if your street may qualify for this traffic calming feature.

Traffic Calming FeaturesA variety of other design and signage features can be used to control speeding on residential streets. These range from simple one-way traffic patterns, lane reductions and turn restrictions to more restrictive approaches, such as closing streets and creating cul-de-sacs. Many of these traffic calming features are quite expensive and many have unintended negative consequences on City services. Given these impacts, full-scale planning and design studies are often needed prior to construction.

Contact Us

For more information on any of the above programs, contact the Transportation Specialist in the City Engineer's Office:(585) 428-6709, or by email